Coupe vs. Cab

[m3f_astan100_7ef66fbe89]

This is from my other post about color, but I realized I should probably separate questions with more specific headings.



Is the Coupe significantly stiffer then the Cab? I drove an automatic, convertible (two things that I don't want) and it wasn't as nimble as I hoped. It need to drop some pounds because of the convertible and the manual would have been a lot more fun.



As for the nimble thing...this car is NUTS! I had never driven an M3 and at first, I was unimpressed with the turn in amount of lean...I mean, this leaned more than my prelude which is why I thought it wasn't nimble, but then my eyes got really wide because...it STOPPED leaning. That was really weird. It's like the suspension has a bit of play before it goes, "Oh, you WANT to turn HARD?" Then it just sticks and goes. Amazing car.



So, is that initial lean a convertible thing, or an M3 thing. I figured that the eventual non-leaning was definately M3 wide, but the convertible I drove sort of surprised me. Should I expect that with all M3's, just conv., or did I drive a dud?

[m3f_kchildre]

Well I would say you probably got a dud (or depending on the miles and how the car was drivin before the shock towers / bushings we're worn down or out.



I've driven an integra GS-R and a prelude and my 98 M3 coupe puts both of them to shame. In hard corners, my car does lean... if you look under my gallery I have a shot from an autocross coming around a real tight corner and you can get an idea of how much the car leans (on stock suspension). I would say you drove a dud (plus the convertible is not as stiff to begin with). So I would recommend trying to find a coupe to drive and see what that is like.



Good luck

[m3f_astan100_7ef66fbe89]

No man...the car leaned...just not like I thought it would. Does your M3 lean a lot at first...and just keep that angle through the turn at moderately fast corners...I'm not pushing the car to its limits here; I was just doing a little more spirited driving.



My problem was the initial turn in...it was sort of odd and unexpected. The rest I figured was normal.



I'll go find a coupe to drive...maybe that will solve the problem.

[m3f_kchildre]

Then I would say you had a dud... The E36 M3 won a best handling car comparison test in Car & Driver v/s Porsche 911, NSX, Ferarri, Supra, and a whole bunch of other cars. The steering is one of the most praised features of the car...



They have a tendency to understeer at first, but that can be turned into oversteer pretty easily... going to same size tires all around helps a little and more negative camber on the front virtually eliminates that trate. As far as leaning goes... it leans a little as you start the turn and that's about it. Everything is smooth, linear, easy to control, and very progressive. So I would think that you got a dud and should try a coupe.



Strut tower bar and X brace are two inexpensive mods that tighten up the front end even more.

[m3f_astan100_7ef66fbe89]

Cool,



Thanks for some more experienced impressions. :thumbsup:



I tried out a 2002 330 a little while back and even the slightly messed up 98 M3 I drove felt much better on turns. The 330 was just too soft.



I can't wait to hop into a working M3.

[m3f_ESP_5b942e8837]

I have a cabrio with stock suspension and there is slight bodyroll but it is much less than 3/4 of the cars out there. Differences between the coupe and cabrio seem to show up in cowl shake, handling is not as good in the cabrio due to weight and some loss of rigidity but it still handles... as kchildre said these cars are setup from the factory with understeer but you can decrease it with suspension setup, swaybars and tire sizes... if you want a cabrio it sounds like you need to find a better one to get a ride in...